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| There are two types of neurologic tests for the brain: those that examine the structure of the brain and those that examine its function. Being so very sensitive, the MRI commonly detects clinically silent (asymptomatic) "brain damage" in the normal population. For example, as we age it is common for myelin in the white matter to degenerate. The resolution is not as good as with conventional arteriography, but the patient is spared the risks of catheterization and allergic reactions to the dye. As the dye flows into the brain, x-rays are taken of the cerebral vasculature.). EEG (Electroencephalogram) Monitors the brain's electrical activity by means of wires attached to the patient's scalp. These wires act like an antenna to record the brain's electrical activity. Theta and delta activity occur in the normal brain as the patient descends into sleep. Conversely, 15% of the population shows mild abnormalities on EEG, representing old head trauma, old strokes, migraine, viral infections, and most of the time for unknown reasons. Quantitative EEG (QEEG, BEAM, Brain Mapping) This test is performed in a way similar to EEG. Each area of the brain normally spends a characteristic amount of time in alpha, beta, theta and delta activity. As a result, the SPECT scan maps the brain's vascular supply. The advantage of a SPECT scan over a PET scan is its ready availability and relatively cheap cost. Recent studies have demonstrated abnormal SPECT scans after head trauma when the CAT and MRI were normal, suggesting that the SPECT scan is more sensitive to brain injury then either CT or MRI scans. These electrical signals can be detected with electrical wires on the scalp. Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) This is an exciting new tool, used in conjunction with MRI, that detects the intra-cellular relationship of brain metabolites. Studies show that in an injured brain, the relationship between the amount of certain compounds in the brain changes in predictable ways, which can be picked up, non-invasively, by MRS. |
| Nervous Breakdown Tendency |